Excerpts from ChicagoTribune.com:
A 19-year-old firefighter trainee and college student from Ford Heights has been indicted by a Cook County court on three counts of arson, allegedly for setting fires at three vacant homes in the village.
Kaumain Allen was arrested last month after a Cook County sheriff’s deputy conducting a routine check at a vacant home on 15th Street spotted him. According to reports, Allen told the officer that he had been sent by the fire department to retrieve equipment left behind. However, investigators later confirmed that the fire department had neither authorized his presence nor sent him to the location.
The sheriff’s office and state fire marshal have been investigating a series of fires in Ford Heights since October, including 11 in vacant houses and two vehicle fires. So far, authorities have not indicated that Allen is linked to any other incidents beyond the three charges he currently faces.
He was also accused of starting two more fires: one on February 9 at the 1500 block of Congress Lane, where he allegedly poured gasoline on debris and lit it with a lighter, and another on March 3 at an empty home. On that occasion, he reportedly used a propane torch to ignite a road flare and threw it onto a pile of debris, causing a fire to break out.
If convicted, Allen could face between three and seven years in prison for each count, with the possibility of consecutive sentences for the three separate incidents, as stated by Campbell.
Ford Heights Fire Department Captain Edward Griffin said the department had no issues with Allen, who had been a volunteer trainee since early this year and remained active until his arrest.
This case has sparked concern among local residents, especially given that the suspect was in training to become a firefighter. It's a rare and troubling situation that raises questions about how someone in such a trusted role could be involved in criminal activity. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the fires and whether there may be more suspects or patterns involved. Meanwhile, the community remains on edge, hoping for justice and greater safety in the neighborhood.
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